SOPA stopped after unprecedented online protests

SOPA and PIPA stopped after unprecedented protests from Wikipedia, reddit

By Jasmin Melvin

WASHINGTON • U.S. lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks Friday, delivering a stunning win for Internet companies that staged an unprecedented online protest this week to kill the previously fast-moving bills.

Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic leader, said he would postpone a critical vote scheduled for Jan. 24 “in light of recent events.”

Lamar Smith, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, followed suit, saying his panel would delay action on similar legislation until there is wider agreement on the issue.

“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” he said. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”

The bills — known as PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House — are aimed at curbing access to overseas websites that traffic in pirated content and counterfeit products, such as movies and music.

The legislation has been a priority for entertainment companies, publishers, pharmaceutical companies and other industry groups who say online piracy costs them billions of dollars a year.

Technology companies are concerned the laws would undermine Internet freedoms, be difficult to enforce and encourage frivolous lawsuits.

Public sentiment on the bills shifted in recent weeks after Internet players ramped up their lobbying.

White House officials weighed in Saturday, saying in a blog post they had concerns about legislation that could make businesses on the Internet vulnerable to litigation, while harming legal activity and free speech.

On Wednesday, protests blanketed the Internet, with Wikipedia and other popular websites going dark for 24 hours. Google , Facebook, Twitter and others protested the proposed legislation but did not shut down.

The protest had quick results: Several sponsors of the legislation, including senators Roy Blunt, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, John Boozman and Marco Rubio, have withdrawn their support.

The indefinite postponement drew quick praise from the Internet community, and ire from Hollywood.

“We appreciate that lawmakers have listened to our community’s concerns, and we stand ready to work with them on solutions to piracy and copyright infringement that will not chill free expression or threaten the economic growth and innovation the Internet provides,” a Facebook spokesman said.

Chris Dodd, chief executive of the Motion Picture Association of America and a former Democratic senator, called the delay a boost for criminals.

“As a consequence of failing to act, there will continue to be a safe haven for foreign thieves,” he said.

Reddit.com, a vocal leader in the protests and among the sites to go dark on Wednesday, said it was pleased the protests were able to slow things down, but said piracy needs to be addressed.

“We really need people at the table who have the technical expertise about these issues who can ensure that whatever bills are drafted have airtight, technically sound language, definitions and frameworks,” said Erik Martin, the company’s general manager.

Mr. Reid said Friday he hoped Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, who has been shepherding the bill through Congress, could help resolve differences in the legislation.

“I am optimistic that we can reach a compromise in the coming weeks,” he said.

Mr. Leahy slammed the Senate derailment of the anti-piracy legislation as a “knee-jerk reaction to a monumental problem,” but said he is committed to getting a bill signed into law this year.